The Mountain and the Squirrel

Auther name (Hazratullah)

High in a distant land, where the air was clear and the wind carried the sound of eagles, there stood a mighty mountain. Its peak rose so high that clouds often rested on its shoulders, and its sides were marked with rivers, forests, and sharp stones. To many creatures, the mountain seemed eternal, unshakable, and proud. It had witnessed storms, earthquakes, and the rise of countless seasons, yet it remained strong, towering above everything around it.

At the base of this mountain lived a small squirrel. The squirrel was quick on its feet, light in spirit, and never tired of its daily work. From dawn until dusk, it ran between trees, collected nuts, stored food for the winter, and cared for its little home. While the mountain looked still and powerful, the squirrel seemed restless and busy, always in motion. Yet both shared the same land, though they never thought much about each other—until one unusual morning.

The sun had just risen, painting the mountain in shades of gold, when the mountain noticed the squirrel leaping from branch to branch. With a deep, booming laugh, the mountain called out, “Tiny one, look at yourself! What a small creature you are, compared to me. I stand firm against storms and hold rivers in my chest. I feed valleys with my snow. You, on the other hand, spend your days running after nuts. What greatness do you bring?”

The squirrel froze for a moment, clutching a nut in its paws. Its bright eyes looked up at the enormous mountain. It could have ignored the words, but there was a spark of courage in its little heart. With a calm voice, the squirrel replied, “Indeed, you are massive, strong, and unmovable. I cannot match your height, nor can I carry snow on my back. But strength is not the only measure of worth. Every creature plays its part in the balance of life.”

The mountain laughed again, the sound echoing through the valleys. “Balance? Do you think the world depends on something as small as you? Without me, rivers would dry, lands would starve, and skies would fall silent. My greatness shapes the earth. What can your little paws and teeth accomplish compared to that?”

The squirrel stood firm. “Let me tell you,” it said gently, “though I may be small, I am not useless. I carry seeds and bury them in the ground. Many times I forget where I hide them, and from those forgotten seeds, trees grow. Those trees give food to animals, shade to travelers, and even strength to your slopes. Without creatures like me, the forests around you would fade away. And if the forests die, so will the beauty that surrounds you.”

The mountain grew silent for a moment, but pride would not let it agree. “Even so,” it replied, “your work is too little to compare with mine. I stand for thousands of years. You live only a short while.”

“Perhaps,” answered the squirrel, “but life is not measured only in years or size. Life is measured in what we give. You stand still, and I move. You are vast, but I am quick. Each of us has a gift. You cannot leap through trees, nor can you store food for the winter. I cannot rise to the skies, but I can teach my children how to survive. Both strength and wit are needed in this world.”

As the squirrel spoke, a hawk flew past and dropped a seed that landed between the rocks of the mountain. The squirrel quickly picked it up and buried it nearby. In time, that seed would become a tree clinging to the side of the mountain, keeping the soil firm and giving shelter to birds. Watching this, the mountain realized that the small creature’s words carried truth. Its mighty rocks might be eternal, but without the humble work of tiny beings, life around it would weaken.

The mountain sighed deeply, a sound like the wind through caves. “Little squirrel, perhaps I was wrong to mock you. I believed that greatness lies only in size and strength, but you have shown me that wisdom and small acts can also shape the world.”

The squirrel smiled, twitching its tail proudly. “We all serve a purpose. The river, the bird, the ant, the tree, and even the stone. No one is greater or lesser; each has a role. Together we keep life in balance.”

From that day on, the mountain stopped laughing at the squirrel. Instead, it admired the creature’s courage and cleverness. Birds, animals, and trees thrived around them, each adding its own gift to the land. The mountain remained tall and strong, while the squirrel continued to leap, gather, and plant. Both learned to respect one another, knowing that the world needs not only strength to endure but also wit to grow.

And so, the story of the mountain and the squirrel lives on as a reminder: power without wisdom is incomplete, and even the smallest heart can hold the greatest value. True greatness is found not in standing above others, but in recognizing the worth of every being, big or small.